KAMNIK celebrate win in men’s top game, AICH/DOB back on track

Calcit Volley KAMNIK (SLO) improved their win-loss record in the main round of the men’s MEVZA League to 5-2, defeating Mladost ZAGREB (CRO) in four sets (25.19, 25-19, 17-25, 25-21) Saturday evening. As a result, Slovenia’s national runners-up took the lead in the current standing on 16 points followed by titleholders ACH Volley LJUBLJANA (SLO) and Mladost. The multiple champions stand the chance to recapture the top spot of the table with a win over Union Raiffeisen Waldviertel at th Tivoli Hall in Ljubljana Sunday evening.

“I am very satisfied with the way we played. We did really well today. I hope, we are able to keep that level of performance and will qualify for the Final Four tournament in March”, Calcit Volley head coach Marko Brumen explained. Radovan Malevic, Mladost’s head coach, was obviously quite disappointed: “Congratulations to Calcit Volley, they played well, on the other hand, we never got into the game. I will have to talk to my players about the weak performance they showed today!”

Mladost’s Ivan Raic top scored with 22 points, while Milosz Hebda and Guilherme Pereira split the best scorer’s honours for the winning team with 14 points each.

PHOTO © HAOK Mladost ZAGREB

Last season’s silver-medallists SK Zadruga AICH/DOB (AUT) emerged victorious from their clash with OK MARIBOR, celebrating a hard-fought 3-2 (24-26, 25-23, 25-17, 23-25, 15-8) home win. Thus, head coach Matjaz Hafner’s squad drew level with fourth-placed Mladost Ribola KASTELA (CRO). Both sides have a 3-3 win-loss record on nine points each. Mladost Ribola left no chance to Mladost BRCKO (BIH) earlier Saturday night. The competition newcomers suffered a 0-3 (22-25, 22-25, 19-25) home loss, which keeps them at the bottom of the table.

AICH/DOB Sports Director Martin Micheu said: “It was a high class game. I did not expect such a performance after the poor game my players showed in the national league encounter against VBC TLC Weiz yesterday. As a result, we stay in the race for the Final Four tickets. Unfortunately, Max Landfahrer suffered an injury. I fear, he could be sidelined for longer!”

Ivan Kolev from AICH/DOB stood out at the JUFA Arena in Bleiburg with 23 points, as Rok Mozic from the away side managed to put 20 to his name. At Brcko, Nemanja Bozic recorded 18 points for the hosts, while KASTELA’s best scorer Ivan Matokovic finished on 14.

PHOTO © CEV

Final Four hosts confirmed

GEN-I Volley NOVA GORICA and Union Raiffeisen WALDVIERTEL will be hosting this season’s Final Four tournaments. The women’s competition reaches its climax on February 8 and 9, while the men’s finals are following on March 4 and 5!

Men’s MEVZA League

23.11.: HAOK Mladost ZAGREB (CRO) vs. Calcit Volley KAMNIK (SLO) 1-3 (19-25, 19-25, 25-17, 21-25)
23.11.: OK Mladost BRCKO (BIH) vs. OK Mladost Ribola KASTELA (CRO) 0-3 (22-25, 22-25, 19-25)
23.11.: SK Zadruga AICH/DOB (AUT) vs. OK MARIBOR (SLO) 3-2 (24-26, 25-23, 25-17, 23-25, 15-8)

24.11., 17:00: ACH Volley LJUBLJANA (SLO) vs. Union Raiffeisen WALDVIERTEL

30.11., 20:30: Calcit Volley KAMNIK (SLO) vs. ACH Volley LJUBLJANA (SLO)
02.12., 20:00: OK MARIBOR (SLO) vs. HAOK Mladost ZAGREB (CRO)

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